Forgotten PS1 Party Games

The release of the PlayStation in 1994 was a roaring success and revolutionized the gaming market, and is still remembered fondly today. The PlayStation One introduced a brand-new catalog of games, introducing gamers to the likes of Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid, and many other beloved classics. Over 3,000 games were released on the PlayStation One, so it is understandable that not all of them reached peak commercial successes. Many of them have been forgotten about; however, they are still good games with superb entertainment value.

The PlayStation One was arguable the best console for local multiplayer; perfect for drunken parties with friends or a cozy co-op night with a partner. Ranging from dancing-rhythm games to good ol' fashioned battle arena games, the PlayStation had that all covered, often with the more obscure titles being the most fun.

9 Parappa The Rapper

PaRappa The Rapper is a rhythm game in which the playable character, PaRappa the beanie-wearing rapping dog, must make his way through six stages by rapping. The aim of the game is to impress and win the heart of Sunny Funny, but he faces some competition along the way.

To win her attention and prove that he is worthy, PaRappa undergoes many wacky adventures like attempting to get his driver’s license, bake a cake, and even learn karate at a dojo.

8 Dinomaster Party

While the parents are away, the babies get to play! With a four-player mode, Dinomaster Party allows players to control one of eight playable baby dinosaurs, ranging from a T-Rex to a speedy Velociraptor. The game’s goal is to compete in a series of games, with one player triumphing above the rest.

There are 12 mini-games to choose from, including a hilarious free-for-all arena fight and a sprinting race game. There are four maps to choose from: the jungle, mountains, volcanoes, and even the center of the Earth!

7 Dance Dance Revolution

Dance Dance Revolution is considered the pioneer of the dance video game genre, paving the way for games Just Dance on the Wii. Players must stand on a dance mat with colored arrows at their feet and respond to the on-screen musical and visual cues. Great for a fast-paced work-out!

Players are judged based on the accuracy of every note they’ve hit, ranging from “Marvelous” to “Miss.” So players should get those dancing shoes on!

6 Worms World Party

The Worms series is a classic in the multiplayer genre. Worms World Party is a fun artillery turn-based tactics game. Players take turns controlling their teams, using all the projectiles and weapons and their disposal, ranging from bazookas to hand grenades.

The goal is to destroy the opposing teams on this highly-destructible landscape. Players must adapt to their ever-changing environments, using tools like a ninja rope to reach otherwise impossible locations to change their position and gain an advantage.

5 Bomberman

Bomberman Party Edition expands upon the original game, having both a single-player mode and a Battle Mode, which is multiplayer; perfect for parties! Players can control Bomberman characters in an arena full of destructible blocks and enemies.

These blocks can be destroyed using bombs. Sometimes, blocks contain a powerup that grants the Bomberman a buff, like increasing his walking speed and the number of bombs that can be placed. Some of these bonuses are temporary, allowing Bomberman to be immune to monsters or bomb explosions. In Battle Mode, up to 4 players can compete to knock out their opponents and win!

4 Poy Poy 2

Poy Poy 2 is a multiplayer action game in which players battle against each other using different props, including rocks, logs, and blocks of ice, choosing from six different arenas. Each selectable character has different strengths and weaknesses, like different movements speed and their varying ability to quickly pick up heavier props.

Players must also be wary of their natural environments, as natural hazards can be detrimental to players. With Mortal Kombat-style gameplay, players can utilize these hazards against their opponents to gain the upper hand.

3 South Park: Chef’s Luv Shack

South Park: Chef's Luv Shack was the second South Park game to launch. Based on the TV Show of the same name, South Park: Chef’s Luv Shack is a 2D game-show-styled party game. It switches between answering trivia questions, sometimes South Park related, and a mini-game every three questions.

There can be four players, choosing from the iconic South Park main characters: Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, or Kenny McCormick. Players can “shaft” or pass on a question to another player, with points being deducted for wrong answers.

2 Crash Bash

all players sitting on separate koala bears on an icy rink

Crash Bash is the fifth title in the Crash Bandicoot series and includes a collection of 28 mini-games and, of course, eight well-known faces from the Crash Bandicoot series. Players can choose to play as Crash, Coco, Tiny, Dingodile, Cortex, Brio, Koala Kong, or Rilla Roo. There are three different game modes: Adventure, Battle, and Tournament.

Battle Mode consists of quick matches within any mini-games won during the story-heavy Adventure Mode and can be played as a free-for-all or in teams. The skill level of computer-controlled opponents can be adjusted between easy, medium, and hard.

1 Bishi Bashi Special

Bishi Bashi Specia l is an iconic party game released on PlayStation, where players compete against each other in absurd and outrageous mini-games. This includes knocking over bowling pins using cars, expanding the player-characters afro until it encapsulates the screen, and even trying to escape a security guard disguised as a bin!

There are over 40 different mini-games to play, and it supports 2-8 players. Each mini-game is explained thoroughly, with instructions before each round. With Bishi Bashi Special, players will find that boredom isn’t an option as they go head-to-head with their friends! The bite-sized mini-game nature of this game paved the way for other similar games in the genre, like WarioWare and Mario Party!

MORE: Best PS1 Games Available On PS Plus Premium